Collapsible tube closure means



July 27, 1965 J. H. WALLACE COLLAFSIBLE TUBE CLOSURE MEANS Filed 001.17, 1963 16 will] INVENTOR fl Wallace fumes BY cam/c. )f/W HTTORNE YUnited States. Patent 3,197,090 CULLAPSIBLE TUBE CLOSURE MEANS James H.Wallace, King County, Wash. (R0. Box 326, Puyallup, Wash.) Filed Oct.17, 1963, Ser. No. 316371 3 Claims. (Cl. 222--519) My invention relatesto collapsible tube closure means.

An object of my invention is to provide collapsible tube closure mean inthe form of a two piece cap which is applicable to an ordinarycollapsible tube and makes it possible to dispense tooth paste, shavingcream and like soft material from the tube without removing the closuremeans from the tube, thereby obviating the danger of dropping ormisplacing and losing-the closure means and in so doing making itpossible to keep the contents of the tube in a more sanitary, cleanerand better condition.

Another object is to provide collapsible tube closure means of simpleand inexpensive construction by which the discharge of paste or likesoft material from a collapsible tube is controlled by movement on a capmember of a sleeve or collar which is captive on the cap member when thecap member is on a tube.

Another object is to provide collapsible tube closure means which issimple and easy to operate and does not require much skill or dexterityor mental effort on the part of the user in obtaining material from thetube.

A further object is to provide collapsible tube closure means which isapplicable to collapsible tubes now in common use and which can beapplied to these tubes in line of production by automatic machines ofthe type now used in capping these tubes without danger of leaving theclosure means in an open or partly open condition, this beingaccomplished by mounting a longitudinally movable sleeve on a cap memberby means of threads which spiral in the opposite direction from theconventional threads used in mounting the cap member on the collapsibletube.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of mycollapsible tube closure device, showing the same as it may appear whenon a collapsible tube and in a closed position.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the closure device in an openposition and showing parts of the tube and parts of the closure devicein elevation.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of collapsible tube closuremeans of modified form showing the same on a collapsible tube and in aclosed position.

FIG. 4 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of theclosure means shown in FIG. 3, showing the same in an open position.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

The closure means shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a cup shaped tubularcap member having a closed outer end 11 and an open inner end which isprovided with an internal thread 12. The thread 12 is adapted tointerfit with and crew onto and off of an external thread 13 on the neck14 of a collapsible tube 15. The outer end portion of the cap 10 isprovided with an overhanging annular flange 16, the inner face of whichforms a stop shoulder 17. The external wall of the cap 10 adjacent tothe flange 16 is smooth and cylindrical and forms a sealing surface 18.An external thread 24 is provided on the cap 10 and extends from theinner end of the sealing surface 18 to a location about half way icebetween said inner end of said sealing surface'ls and the innermost end23 of the cap 10. The external wall 21 of the cap 10 inwardly from thethread 20 is smooth and cylindrical and of a diameter not larger thanthe root diameter of the thread 20. The diameter of the cylindricalsealing surface 18is at least equal to the maximum diameter of theexternal threads 20. A lateral discharge opening or port 22 is providedin the cap 10 near the outer end thereof and inwardly from the sealingsurface 18. Preferably the innermost fiat end 23 of the cap 10 isroughened or scored to increase frictional resistance between said cap10 and the collapsible tube 13 and lessen the danger of the cap 10loosening on the tube 13. A captive sleeve 25 has an internal thread 26which interfits the external thread 20'on, the cap 10 and mounts thesleeve 25 for longitudinal movement on the cap 10. The internal thread26 of the sleeve 25 terminates short of both ends of said sleeve. Thismakes it possible to provide, within the outer end portion of the sleeve25, a cylindrical sealing surface 27 of slightly larger diameter thanthe sealing surface 18 for sealing cooperation with said sealing surface18 when the sleeve 25 is in a closed position, and to provide, withinthe inner end portion of the sleeve 25, a cylindrical guide surface 28which is just enough larger in diameter than the external cylindricalsurface 21 on the cap 10 so that it operates smoothly over and is guidedby said external cylindrical surface 21. The top end 29 of the sleeve 25is smooth and abuts against the shoulder 17 of flange 16 when the sleeve25 is in the closed position shown in FIG. 1. Preferably scoring,indicated by marks 16' and 25' respectively in FIG. 2, is provided onthe periphery of the flange 16 and sleeve 25 to facilitate grasping andapplying torque to these parts. The surfaces 21 and 28 are always insealing relation to each other at the inner end of the sleeve 25 and thesurfaces 18 and 27 and 17 and 29 provide a double seal at the outer endof the sleeve 25 when said sleeve is in a fully closed position.

My closure device is adaptable to use by automatic machines of the typeemployed to install caps on collapsible tubes when they are filled.Usually right hand threads are provided on the necks of these tubes andfor this reason I preferably use left hand threads 20 and 26respectively on the exterior of the cap 10 and within the sleeve 25 sothat any torque applied to the sleeve in a direction which tends tothread the closure device onto a tube will tend to more tightly closethe sleeve 25 by jamming its end 29 more firmly against the shoulder 17.Obviously the direction of the threads and the external design orconfiguration of the cap member 10 and sleeve 25 can be varied to suitthe requirements of different cap applying machines.

This closure device is quickly and easily opened and closed withoutremoving any parts thereof from the tube and for this reason is notliable to be dropped in places where it will pick up dirt and becomeunsanitary or to be misplaced or lost and cause a tube to be left openand its contents unprotected. The sleeve 25 seals efficiently and stayssealed thus protecting the contents of the tube from evaporation. Theclosure device is fairly short and does not add greatly to the over-alllength of the packaged product.

The embodiment of my invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is illustrative ofa modified external design and it discloses a cap 30 and sleeve 31 whichare longer than the just described cap 10 and sleeve 25, thereby makingit possible to provide a discharge opening or port 32 in an externallysmooth and non-threaded part 37 of the cap 30. Said cap 30 has an openinner end provided with an internal thread 33 for engagement with theusual thread 13 on the neck of a collapsible tube 15.

Said cap 31) has a closed outer end 34 provided with an overhangingflange 35 forming a shoulder 36 for stop and sealing purposes. Theexternal wall of the cap 30 is shaped to form the relatively longsealing surface 37 and a medially positioned external thread 38 and acylincylindrical sealing and guide surfaces 41 and 42 which correspondto the previously described thread and sealing and guide surfaceswithinthe sleeve 25, except that the sealing surface 41 is of greaterlength thanthe sealing surface 27. Preferably scoring, indicated bymarks 43 and 44 respectively, isprovided on the rounded upper end of thecap 30 and on the outer rounded peripheral wall of the sleeve 31ltofacilitate grasping and applying torque to these parts. The flat top andcylindrical exterior shown in FIGS. -1 and '2 and the spherical top andexterior shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are illustrative of the wide range inexternal designs to which this cap is adapted.

The operation of the cap and captive sleeve shown in FIGS. 3 and 4' issimilar to the previously described operation of the cap 16 and sleeveZSofFIGS. l and 2, except that in the closure device of FIGS. 3 and 4 thedischarging material is kept clear of the threads on the'exterior of thecap and in the sleeve. This lessens the danger of the contents of thetube being smeared on the outside of the closure device.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings clearly disclosepreferred embodiments of my invention but it will be understood thatthis disclosure is merely illustrative and that changes may be madewithin the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A closure device for application to'the externally threaded neck of acollapsible tube comprising a tubular cap of inverted cup shape havingan internally threaded lower end adapted to be screwed onto theexternally threaded neck of a collapsible tube, said, cap having aclosed upper end provided with an external flange and havingan externalthread adjacent to said flange and having a lateral discharge opening inthe wall thereof inwardly from and adjacent said flange; of-a captivesleeve of substantially less length than said cap and having an internalthread interfitte d with the thread on said cap, said sleeve beinglongitudinally movable on said cap betweenan open position and a closedposition relative to the lateral discharge opening in said cap, thespiraling direction of the threads on the exterior of the tubular capand the interior of the sleeve being opposite from the spiralingdirection of the threads in the inner end portion of the cap and on thetube to which the cap is applied, whereby torque appliedto the sleeve ina direction tending to screw the cap onto the tube will tend to tightenthe sleeve against the external flange on the outer end of thecap,-thereby obviating loosening of the sleeve on the'cap in applyingthe cap to. the tube and adapting'the closure means for use by a capapplying machine.

2. A closure device for application to the externally threaded neck of acollapsible tube comprising a cup shaped tubular cap having an openinner end and a closed outer end; internal threads in said cap adjacentopen inner end adapted to screw onto an externally threaded neck of acollapsible tube; an overhanging external flange on the outer endportion of thecap; an

external thread on the cap adjacent to said overhanging external flange,said thread terminating short of the inner end ofthe cap and theexternal wall of the inner end portion of the .cap being smooth andcylindrical and of a diameter not exceeding the root diameter of saidexternal thread; a laterally directed discharge opening in theexternally threaded portion of the wall of the cap adjacent to saidexternal annular flange; and a captive sleeve having an internal threadinterfitting the external thread of the cap, said sleeve beinglongitudinally movable by rotation thereof on the cap to cause the upperend portion of the sleeve to move over and close said discharge openingor to be retracted clear of said dis-.

charge opening, the outerend of the sleeve abutting said externalannular flange at the outermost limit of its movement, the internalthread of the sleeve terminating short of the inner end of said sleeveand said sleeve having an inner cylindricalsealing surface between itsinner end and its said internal thread extending around and disposed inclose sealing relation to said smooth external cylindrical wall of saidcap.

3. In combination a collapsible tube having an externally threaded neck;a cup shaped tubular cap having an open inner end and a closed outerend; internal threads in said cap adjacent said open inner end adaptedto screw onto the externally threaded neck of the tube; an overhangingexternal annular flange on the outer end portion of said cap, saidflange having an inner face forming a stop shoulder and sealing surface;anexternal thread on the cap, theouter end of said thread terminatingshort of the stop shoulder and sealing surface formed by the inner faceof said flange, the external wall of said cap between said flange andsaid external thread being smooth and cylindrical and forming anexternal sealing surface of a diameter at least equal to the maximumdiameter of said thread, the inner end of said external threadterminating short of the inner end of the cap, and the external wall ofthe cap between the inner end of the external thread and the inner endof the cap being smooth and cylindrical and of a diameter not exceedingthe root diameter of said external thread; a

laterally directed discharge opening in the wall of said cap adjacent tobut spaced inwardly from-the inner face of said overhanging flange; anda captive sleeve having an internal thread interfitting the externalthread on said cap and having an upper end portion adapted to abut andseat against the stop shoulder and seal formed by the inner face of saidflange and having, outwardly from said internal thread, a smoothcylindrical internal sealing surface of slightly larger diameter'than'theexternal sealing surface of said cap adjacent said flange for sealingengagement with said sealing surface adjacent the flange on said cap,said sleeve being longitudinally movable by rotation thereof on the capto cause the upper end portion of the sleeve to move over and close saiddischarge opening and to be retracted clear of said discharge openingthe internal thread of the sleeve terminating short of the inner end ofsaid sleeve and said sleeve having an inner cylindrical sealing surfacebetween its inner. end and'the adjacent end of its said internal threadextending around and disposed in close sealing relation to said smoothexternal cylindrical wall adajcent the inner end of said cap,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,762,536 9/56Eriksen 222 -519 FOREIGN PATENTS 201,406 8/23 Great Britain. 317,9598/29 Great Britain.

EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, Examiner.

1. A CLOSURE DEVICE FOR APPLICATION TO THE EXTERNALLY THREADED NECK OF ACOLLAPSIBLE TUBE COMPRISING A TUBULAR CAP OF INVERTED CUP SHAPE HAVINGAN INTERNALLY THREADED LOWER END ADAPTED TO BE SCREWED ONTO THEEXTERNALLY THREADED NECK OF A COLLAPSIBLE TUBE, SAID CAP HAVING A CLOSEDUPPER END PROVIDED WITH AN EXTERNAL FLANGE AND HAVING AN EXTERNAL THREADADJACENT TO SAID FLANGE AND HAVING A LATERAL DISCHARGE OPENING IN THEWALL THEREOF INWARDLY FROM AND ADJACENT TO SAID FLANGE AND SLEEVE OFSUBSTANTIALLY LESS LENGTH THAN SAID CAP AND HAVING AN INTERNAL THREADINTERFITTED WITH THE THREAD ON SAID CAP, SAID SLEEVE BEINGLONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE ON SAID CAP BETWEEN AN OPEN POSITION AND A CLOSEDPOSITION RELATIVE TO THE LATERAL DISCHARGE OPENING IN SAID CAP, THESPIRALING DIRECTION OF THE THREADS ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE TUBULAR CAPAND THE INTERIOR OF THE SLEEVE BEING OPPOSITE FROMTHE SPIRALINGDIRECTION OF THE THREADS IN THE INNER END PORTION OF THE CAP AND ON THETUBE TO WHICH THE CAP IS APPLIED, WHEREBY TORQUE APPLIED TO THE SLEEVEIN A DIRECTION TENDING TO SCREW THE CAP ONTO THE TUBE WILL TEND TOTIGHTEN THE SLEEVE AGAINST THE EXTERNAL FLANGE ON THE OUTER END OF THECAP, THEREBY OBVIATING LOOSENING OF THE SLEEVE ON THE CAP IN APPLYINGTHE CAP TO THE TUBE AND ADAPTING THE CLOSURE MEANS FOR USE BY A CAPAPPLYING MACHINE.